Sydney, 16 December 2024: Food insecurity is a silent crisis sweeping across Australia, with 94% of Australian children failing to eat enough fresh fruit and vegetables (CSIRO), and First Nations communities in remote areas facing staggering barriers to accessing affordable, healthy food (AIHW).
This past year, Food Ladder’s climate-controlled, hydroponic greenhouses in Australian schools helped produce nearly 4 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables for students and their communities, supplementing 130,000 meals with the aim to improve health and learning outcomes.
Kelly McJannett, Food Ladder co-founder and CEO, said the not-for-profit program has created a lasting impact on student health, engagement, and educational outcomes, while also building critical life and vocational skills.
Across Australia, 40 schools are now part of the Food Ladder system, covering every state and territory, and more than 17,000 students are engaged with hands-on experience of growing nutritious food – planting, nurturing, harvesting, and then taking that produce home back to their families.
Kelly McJannett
Importantly, 97.4% of educators have expressed high satisfaction with our program, recognising its positive impact on students’ health, attendance, and overall engagement both in the greenhouse and the classroom.
Kelly McJannett
By working with schools to holistically integrate food production into their curriculums, Food Ladder is creating long-term impact by opening up employment pathways in agri-tech and reducing the effects of poor diet and chronic diseases.
Kelly McJannett
Empowering students, transforming communities
In remote communities, food insecurity is compounded by the growing threat of climate change and 1.6°C of warming expected by 2055, on track to make large parts of Australia’s farmland inhospitable.
Our cutting-edge technology means Food Ladder’s systems are five times more efficient than traditional ground-based farming methods, allowing even the most remote and disadvantaged communities to produce fresh food in harsh climates.
Kelly McJannett
It’s amazing to see Food Ladder greenhouses become the cornerstone of local communities, with many schools forming partnerships with frontline services, local businesses, and restaurants to make the impact go further – one school even raised $3,000 from selling their produce.
Kelly McJannett
By providing access to fresh, locally grown food, Food Ladder is not only addressing the immediate food security needs of communities but also teaching the next generation the importance of healthy eating, sustainability, and innovation.